Periduki set for Alice Springs Cup Carnival return

SOUTH Australian based trainer Mick Whittle has not ruled out bringing champion racehorse Periduki back to the Red Centre for this year’s Alice Springs Cup Carnival beginning in April, after the horse’s dramatic return to racing last weekend.

Pioneer Park Races. Jockey Scott Westover raises his whip after his win on Periduki in race 7

SOUTH Australian based trainer Mick Whittle has not ruled out bringing champion racehorse Periduki back to the Red Centre for this year’s Alice Springs Cup Carnival beginning in April, after the horse’s dramatic return to racing last weekend.

Periduki was officially retired in December 2013 with a career record of 24 wins and 15 placings from 84 starts, but returned to the track late last year for two runs at Port Lincoln without success.

The 10-year-old gelding resumed racing on Saturday, winning the Darley Handicap at Morphettville in Adelaide over 1100m when ridden by jockey Eran Boyd.

Periduki is the most successful racehorse to come from Alice Springs after it was bought at the Inglis Red Centre Yearling Sales for just $6000 and now has career earnings of $706,095.

Whittle was not confident of an Alice return but said there was sentimental value in bringing the champion back.

“It is not completely out of the question but there is probably less chance than there is more chance,” he said.

“It would be nice to win one up there with him and actually retire him up there, it would be lovely to go out on a station up there or something.

“That is what I would like to do long-term.”

Periduki won Alice Springs’ premier sprint, the Pioneer Sprint, in 2013 in sensational fashion.

The veteran, carrying a hefty 61.5kg, was second last before he launched a fierce run down the outside of the home straight to beat Outstandingly by a neck.

Periduki also won the Pioneer Sprint in 2008, the only three-year-old to achieve the feat.

Whittle said the bay gelding was not enjoying retirement and wanted to be back in work.